It is that time of the year when Hollywood hands out its most coveted gongs. At the risk of sounding naive after three days, here are my predictions for this year’s Oscar winners.

Best Motion Picture of the Year

Who Will Win: This is a very tricky category. For a long time ‘Spotlight’ was the front-runner but ‘The Revenant’ seems to have gathered the steam in the final laps of the race. I will put my vote on ‘Spotlight’ and it is more than likely that I will be wrong.

Who Should Win:’Spotlight’

Honourable Mention: ‘The Big Short’

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

Who Will Win: Leonardo DiCaprio. No questions asked.

Who Should Win: Leonardo DiCaprio

Honourable Mention: I liked Bryan Cranston in ‘Trumbo’ a lot but this is Leo’s year.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Who Will Win: Brie Larson. In a strong field she has that little extra that makes her performance stand out.

Who Should Win: Brie Larson

Honourable Mention: Saoirse Ronan in ‘Brooklyn’ gives a well calibrated performance. So do Charlotte Rampling and Cate Blanchett.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

Who Will Win: Sylvester Stallone. Let us give an Oscar to Rambo.

Who Should Win: Mark Rylance in ‘Bridge of Spies’

Honourable Mention: Mark Ruffalo

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

Who Will Win: Alicia Vikander for ‘The Danish Girl’. She puts in another solid performance in ‘Ex-Machina’.

Who Should Win: Rachel McAdams

Honourable Mention: Kate Winslet

Best Achievement in Directing

Who Will Win: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu will create history by winning back to back Oscars

Who Should Win: George Miller for ‘Mad Max’, a work of sheer genius

Honourable Mention: Tom McCarthy

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen

Who Will Win: Spotlight

Who Should Win: Spotlight

Honourable Mention: Inside Out

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published

Who Will Win: The Big Short

Who Should Win: The Big Short

Honourable Mention: Room

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year

Who Will Win: Inside Out. Sealed and delivered.

Who Should Win: Inside Out

Honourable Mention: Anomalisa

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year

Who Will Win: Son of Saul. First win for Hungary.

Who Should Win: Son of Saul

Honourable Mention: Mustang

Best Achievement in Cinematography

Who Will Win: Emmanuel Lubezki for ‘The Revenant’

Who Should Win: Emmanuel Lubezki

Honourable Mention: Roger Deakins for ‘Sicario’

Best Achievement in Editing

Who Will Win: Mad Max: Fury Road

Who Should Win: Mad Max: Fury Road

Honourable Mention: Spotlight

Best Achievement in Production Design

Who Will Win: Mad Max: Fury Road

Who Should Win: Mad Max: Fury Road

Honourable Mention: The Martian

Best Achievement in Costume Design

Who Will Win: Carol

Who Should Win: Mad Max: Fury Road

Honourable Mention: Cinderella

Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling

Who Will Win: Mad Max: Fury Road

Who Should Win: Mad Max: Fury Road

Honourable Mention: The Revenant

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score

Who Will Win: Ennio Morricone for ‘The Hateful Eight’. A long overdue competitive Oscar for a legend.

This is one of the toughest years in Oscar history where many of the major categories are too close to call. Still, I will put my reputation at stake.

Here is my list of bets for 2015 Oscars.

Best Motion Picture of the Year

Who will win: ‘Boyhood’ because it is a feel good movie even when it feels like a long television series. ‘Birdman’ is touted as the closest competition but it is too unconventional for mainstream audiences. If I had a vote, it would have been cast for ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’.

Who deserves to win: ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’.

Darkhorse: ‘Birdman’.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

Who will win: Eddie Redmayne

Who deserves to win: Eddie Redmayne.

Darkhorse: Michael Keaton. Though the challenge by the thespian is said to be more than formidable, his only hope of victory is by gaining some sentimental votes.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Who will win: Julianne Moore all the way.

Who deserves to win: Julianne Moore even though a special mention must be made of Marion Cotillard.

Darkhorse: Absolutely no competition.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

Who will win: J K Simmons. Sealed and delivered.

Who deserves to win: J K Simmons

Darkhorse: An honorable mention for Mark Ruffalo.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

Who will win: Patricia Arquette for her heartwarming performance. An Oscar is long overdue.

Who deserves to win: Patricia Arquette.

Darkhorse: Other nominees including Meryl Streep are just filling in the nomination slots.

Best Achievement in Directing

Who will win: The toughest category to predict this year. Should Richard Linklater be awarded for his commitment and passion for ‘Boyhood’ or is it Alexandro Innaritu who deserves acclaim for the unconventional ‘Birdman’? My vote is for Richard Linklater but I won’t be surprised if Innaritu pulls off a surprise.

Who deserves to win: Richard Linklater

Darkhorse: Wes Anderson.

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen

Who will win: ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’.

Who deserves to win: ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’

Darkhorse: ‘Boyhood’.

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published

Who will win: ‘The Imitation Game’. A close contender is ‘Whiplash’.

Who deserves to win: ‘The Imitation Game’

Darkhorse: ‘American Sniper’.

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year

Who will win: ‘How to Train Your Dragon 2’

Who deserves to win:’ The Lego Movie’ but it is not even nominated.

Darkhorse: ‘Princess Kaguya’

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year

Who will win: I want ‘Leviathan’ to win and my vote is for it but it seems ‘Ida’ may walk away with the prize. Going by the nature of voting in the Academy ‘Ida’ will be the winner.

It is that time of the year when I have to put my money where my mouth is. Here is my list of bets for 2014 Oscars.

Please note that the blog will return to its normal format next week.

Best Motion Picture of the Year

Who will win: ’12 Years a Slave’. This category is facing one of the closest contests in years but this film could clinch it because it could otherwise end up without any awards. True to recent form, the Academy likes to spread the winners in a year where there are no overwhelming favourites. Moreover, voting for a movie on slavery is the politically correct thing to do.

Who deserves to win: ‘Gravity’ because it was really the best.

Darkhorse: ‘American Hustle’ because some sections of the Academy just love it.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

Who will win: Matthew McConaughey because it is the kind of performance that gets the members nod in approval.

Who deserves to win: DiCaprio because he has been more consistent over the years and deserves his place in the sun.

Darkhorse: Chiwetel Ejiofor because the other votes could be split.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Who will win: Cate Blanchett because there is no competition and she was simply awesome.

Who deserves to win: Cate Blanchett

Darkhorse: No one

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

Who will win: Jared Leto not because his was the best performance.

Who deserves to win:Michael Fassbender because he is a better actor and he put on a better performance.

Darkhorse: Barkhad Abdi

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

Who will win: Lupita Nyong’o. This is a very tough category to call because Jennifer Lawrence has also put in a very good performance.

Who deserves to win: Jennifer Lawrence may not deserve to win but she is a very popular figure among the voters but her major handicap could be the victory she had last year. She is too young to have two Oscar wins.

Darkhorse: No one

Best Achievement in Directing

Who will win: Alphonso Cuaron for ‘Gravity’ because he was the best.

Who deserves to win: Alphonso Cuaron

Darkhorse: Steve McQueen

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen

Who will win: Really a tough call between ‘Her’ and ‘American Hustle’.

Who deserves to win: ‘Her’ because it was really original.

Darkhorse: ‘Blue Jasmine’

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published

Who will win:’12 Years a Slave’

Who deserves to win: ‘Before Midnight’ because that series deserves at least one Oscar.

Darkhorse: ‘Captain Phillips’

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year

Who will win:‘Frozen’

Who deserves to win:’The Wind Rises’

Darkhorse: ‘Ernest and Celestine’

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year

Who will win:‘The Great Beauty’ because it is the best film in the category. It is classy, contemporary and will be remembered for a long time.

Who will win: Very tough to predict a winner in this. It is a toss up between ‘Gravity’ and ‘Captain Phillips’. My vote is for ‘Captain Phillips’ but ‘Gravity’ may just clinch it.

Who deserves to win: Again a tough call between ‘Gravity’ and ‘Captain Phillips’.

Darkhorse: No one

Best Achievement in Production Design

Who will win: ‘The Great Gatsby’ because that was a standout feature (as I had written in my review of the film much before the nominations were out) in an otherwise lousy film.

Who deserves to win:’Gravity’ and ‘The Great Gatsby’ were equally good.

Dark horse: No one

Best Achievement in Costume Design

Who will win: ‘The Great Gatsby’

Who deserves to win: ‘The Great Gatsby’

Darkhorse: ‘The Invisible Woman’

Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling

Who will win: ‘Dallas Buyers Club’

Who deserves to win: Nobody because the nominees have only done average work.

Darkhorse: No one

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score

Who will win: ‘Gravity’

Who deserves to win: ‘Gravity’

Dark horse: ‘Her’ has really good background score and would have won in a normal year but this is not a normal year.

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song

Who will win:‘Let It Go’ for ‘Frozen’

Who deserves to win: ‘Let It Go’ for ‘Frozen’

Dark horse: “Ordinary Love” from ‘Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’.

Best Achievement in Sound Mixing

Who will win:‘Gravity’

Who deserves to win: ‘Gravity’

Dark horse: ‘Captain Phillips’

Best Achievement in Sound Editing

Who will win:‘Gravity’

Who deserves to win: ‘Gravity’

Dark horse: ‘Captain Phillips’

Best Achievement in Visual Effects

Who will win:‘Gravity’

Who deserves to win: ‘Gravity’

Dark horse: No one

Best Documentary, Feature

Who will win: This year has been particularly good for documentaries. This makes it a very tough one to predict. I would like to see ‘The Act of Killing’ triumph because it is one of the truly remarlable documentaries ever made but ’20 Feet from Stardom’ is a Hollywood favourite.

Based on true events, the film tells the story of enemies united by music and the spirit of Christmas. During the First World War, German, French and Scottish soldiers momentarily stop fighting on the eve of Christmas and celebrate it together. It is little difficult to describe because it looks surreal. If I were at the scene, I would have pinched myself. They just lie down their arms, exchange hugs, sing, celebrate Christmas and then go back to fighting. Nominated for Oscar in the best foreign language film category. Did not win. Even the Academy voters would have found the story too good to be true.

Exquisitely shot anti-war romance. Italian soldiers land in a Greek island during the World War 2. The story develops as they come in contact with the people (some of them too gorgeous) of the island. Picturesque locations and the laid back life of the islands have an enduring effect on the soldiers. Though set during the World War, it is a light movie which moves at a leisurely pace. Only thing that can hold you back from watching this Oscar winner is the damning fact that it was produced by Silvio Berlusconi (yes, the Bunga Bunga guy). On a serious note, worth a watch.

The thing about ganging up to commit robbery is that trust between the gang members is an absolute essential. The uproarious British comedy explores what all could go wrong when each member of a four member gang tries to double cross one another. Jamie Lee Curtis is in the role of a lifetime in this film which has comedy at its core but also has a story to tell. The sad thing is that many Indian movies have unashamedly stolen scenes from this movie. Otherwise, perfect weekend entertainment.

The original boxing classic based on the life of Jake LaMotta. LaMotta reaches the heights by channeling his rage and anger on the boxing ring but as he climbs the charts, the same flaws take a heavy toll on his personal life. Robert De Niro deservedly won an Oscar for his performance but Scorsese had to wait till ‘The Departed’ to land his first one. The movie is a lesson on life. Don’t miss the title sequence in the beginning. I would have given Scorsese the Oscar just for that.

A man’s search for his last remaining relative who has been kidnapped at a tender age. His persistence and focus also leads to morally ambiguous situations. After years of staying away in a different culture would the girl still want to come back? Will he take her back when she discovers that she is no more like the girl he was searching for? Tough questions. Watch the movie which is often cited as the best Western ever made.

A boy and a girl fall in love. Then they are separated. The boy does not let go and pursues the girl. Simple story. Only issue is that they live in different worlds which have opposite gravity. Since digitally everything is possible, we have a plastic world where things are so beautiful that you know they don’t exist. Since the science is spurious, the story also feels fake. Maybe, you can take your partner to the cinema, eat popcorn, discuss few things and occasionally look at the screen.

The initial idea behind big budget animation films was that kids will drag their parents to the cinema and help sell those extra tickets. Disney has laughed all the way to the bank on a couple of occasions milking this idea. Now things are not so simple. So they have to throw in Rachel Weisz, Mila Kunis and Michelle Williams to attract the right kind of audience. The grown ups can ogle at the beauties while the children can have the real fun. The movie is strictly for kids. They may enjoy it.

One line verdict: Not a bad film by the standards of Bollywood. Now the real thing (Spoilers ahead). If you think about it, ‘Raanjhanaa’ is a regressive film. The Muslim girl cannot marry any Hindu guy even when she has a choice of two. The leading lady is manipulative and does not really love any of her suitors. Truth be said, the film is about the love story of two different men for the same girl but it is all one way traffic. One of them is dumb enough to try his luck at marriage by posing as a Muslim and the other gets into politics of which he has no clue. The most sincere scene in the movie is when the men bond at the hospital bed of Abhay Deol. I have not lived in Uttar Pradesh but I can safely say that wrist slashing at the drop of a hat is not the preferred mode of wooing a girl in any part of the country. Come to think of it, Dhanush’s character is a bigger psycho than Shahrukh Khan of ‘Darr’. Here the stalking is direct and so in your face. Unfortunately Dhanush looks so earnest in his performance that you are willing to give him some sympathy but if you want to see why he won the National Award for best actor, watch ‘Aadukalam’. The good thing is that the movie does not really bore you and A R Rahman’s music helps the cause. Moral of the story for men: You cannot force anyone to love you and when you understand that get out of the scene. Otherwise you may find yourself in a coffin and the girl won’t even cry.

Some people have too much courage or are they plain crazy? In which category would you place someone who walks 200 feet on a wire between two buildings at a height of 110 storeys? That too, without any safety features. One guy did it in 1974 and this is the documentary on him and his activities. Don’t try at home.

Eagerly waiting for: ‘The Lone Ranger’ because of Johnny Depp.

Did you know: The African Americans who acted in ‘Gone With the Wind’ were not allowed entry to the premiere of the movie.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8w0EtOi-Uo
The patriarch of a Japaneses family quits his good paying job in a snap moment. The downward spiral of his family follows and the film shows no mercy in telling the truth as it is. If you are looking for uplifting stuff or the ‘triumph of human spirit’, this is sadly not that movie. Gritty. At least will make you think a thousand times before quitting your job.

A boy and a spinster embark on a journey to find the boy’s father after the death of his mother. One of the best road movies ever. Touching without being overtly sentimental. I had tears in my eyes by the last scene. Unforgettable performances. One particular scene stands out. When a guy says that he is the happiest man in the world, for once, you believe him when you look at his face. Trivia: The lead character was a shoeshine boy when the director discovered him at an airport.

A masterpiece showing the final days of Hitler. The manic loyalty of Hitler’s followers even when they know that they are losing the war is only matched by the tantrums thrown by the Fuehrer. Among the many unforgettable scenes is the one in which Mrs. Goebbels puts her children ‘to sleep’. Chilling and engaging. Cinema at its best.

Two men who have nothing in common but the will to live. When those two men happen to be Dustin Hoffman and Steve McQueen, you are in for a treat. One of the best movies on hope and triumph of the human spirit. The precursor to Shawshank Redemption.

Definitely in my top 3 sports movies of all time. Gene Hackman’s best role ever. The story of a school basketball team in search of a second chance. If you are looking for inspiration on a lazy weekend, this movie might help. For all those who believe in a second chance.

The inside story of the food industry. Can make you lose your appetite.

Did you know: The Satyajit Ray classic ‘Pather Panchali’ was partly financed by the Government of West Bengal and was shown as funding for ‘roads improvement’. Incidentally, ‘Pather Panchali’ in Bengali means ‘Song of the Road’.